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- By Supratik Das
- Sun, 11 Jan 2026 04:06 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
As Iran witnesses one of its most intense waves of anti-government protests in recent years, Reza Pahlavi, the country’s exiled crown prince, has stepped into the spotlight, urging demonstrators to continue their street protests and warning that the clerical regime is losing control.
Pahlavi, the eldest son of Iran’s last Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, said the sustained presence of protesters has “severely weakened” the repressive machinery of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Addressing Iranians as “my compatriots” in a message posted on X, he appealed for unity, caution and persistence.
What Reza Pahlavi Said?
“Do not abandon the streets,” Pahlavi said, adding that reliable reports indicated a shortage of forces willing to suppress protesters. “Many armed and security forces have left their workplaces or disobeyed orders to suppress the people,” he claimed.
He alleged that the regime is increasingly dependent on what he described as a “minority of violent mercenaries,” warning that those involved in brutal crackdowns would be held accountable. At the same time, he urged protesters not to move alone and to avoid side streets that could endanger their lives. “My heart is with you. Know that you are not alone. I know that I will soon be by your side,” Pahlavi said, hinting at a possible return to Iran.
Who Is Reza Pahlavi?
Reza Pahlavi was born in Tehran in 1960 and was named crown prince during his father’s coronation in 1967. His life took a dramatic turn with the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which overthrew the monarchy and forced the royal family into exile.
Pahlavi left Iran in 1978 to undergo fighter pilot training in the United States and has lived abroad ever since, primarily in the US. Following his father’s death in 1980, he declared himself Iran’s king-in-exile, though in later years he distanced himself from calls for restoring absolute monarchy.
Instead, Pahlavi has positioned himself as a proponent of a secular, democratic Iran, advocating non-violent civil resistance and a national referendum to decide the country’s future political system.
The protests, which began over soaring inflation, a collapsing currency and rising living costs, have evolved into broader calls for the removal of the Khamenei-led regime. Despite an internet blackout, mass arrests and reports of dozens of deaths, demonstrations have continued across several cities.
Pahlavi said Iranians abroad were amplifying the protesters’ voices and claimed growing international support. Referring to the United States, he said President Donald Trump had closely followed events and was ready to help the Iranian people. While some Iranians view Pahlavi as a symbol of national unity and an alternative to clerical rule, others remain sceptical due to his long exile and the authoritarian legacy of the former monarchy.
Nevertheless, as protests intensify and pressure mounts on the Islamic Republic, Reza Pahlavi has once again emerged as a prominent voice in the debate over Iran’s future.